Has anyone built a "restomod" Caddy that isn't a hotrod?

[jwwseville60]

There are lots of Caddy restomods.
All of them seem like high powered CADMAD-style  hotrods.

Does anyone know of some that were built to look stock but with a modern drivetrain, PS, PB, AC? I saw one 1947 sedan years ago on Hemmings that fit this bill, but are there others?

Nice car, but still a loud street rod with an ugly IDIDIT column.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeQQkT3VzoM

[Clewisiii]

I would say Dan McNarry's 1962. Or Milton's 1961.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

No but I'm somewhat of a purist

[35-709]

I don't consider my '35 Cadillac resto-mod (Big Red) to be a hot rod. 
He has a rebuilt, stock '71 472 (burning regular gas), 700R4 trans, 8.8 Ford rear end with 3:73 gears.  B.R. was built as a reliable resto-mod cruiser, I don't drag race it or street race it, I don't even burn rubber with it and not sure it would at its weight.  It is all-day comfortable with 2006 Cadillac CTS seats, AC, cruise control, power windows & door locks.  It has a '72 Chevy front suspension with disc brakes front and rear and has never let me down in 40,000 miles of road trips - no trailer.  Cruise it at 70 to 80 on the interstate, more if you like. 
He has been driven from my home (and back) to Cadillac Grand Nationals in Boston, Lake George, Washington DC (with a second in class award in Washington), and St. Augustine.  B.R. has been to Indianapolis, he completed a ~2000 mile week long road trip and tour this past May to Texarkana, and has completed 2 other similar tours in Ohio and the Adirondacks.  Summer of 2025 will see him doing a weeklong organized tour of the Hudson River Valley with an approx. 2400 mile drive just to get up there and back home.
There are lots of resto-mods out there that are not "hot rods", it depends on how you build them, and a little on how you use them.
Geoff N.       

[Joe Jensen]

A meet a guy at a car show nearby with a 1949 club coupe series 61 with an LS engine.  It looked stock until you open the hood.

I won't call it a hot rod but definitely has a bit more power than the stock 331.

Joe

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Resto Rod, Street Rod or Hot Rod?   I would class BR as a Hot Rod, but it is up to the owner as to what he describes it.

Plus, it could also be classed as a Sleeper

Bruce.

[jwwseville60]

Those Resto-mod Caddies above are all great.

Personally, I was thinking of a "quiet" resto-mod. An everyday use vintage Caddy serviceable by a GM dealer or good independent shop. Easy to find parts, easily fixed.

Take this 1963 SDV. It can be had for around $18-20K.

Id add an LS3 with auto. (Or the whole package lifted from an Escalade)
Or a 5.3 LS from a Chevy Tahoe, 2018-new.
Id like to keep everything mostly GM.

Modern radiator.
Wilwood disc brakes all round.
Trunk mounted AC plus front, but using modern components.
Stock wheels, rebuilt suspension. Keep it smooth and luxurious.
Single or dual quiet exhaust.

Chevy 12 bolt with LSD. Or a more modern rear axle assembly. Any suggestions?
Modern hubs and wheel bearings.
Urethane bushings.
Custom Stainless fuel tank with stock LS3 pump.

A modern wiring harness and Busman fuse box.
LED lights in the cabin & trunk to replace all bulbs.
LED headlamps. Tail lamps too.
Glovebox stereo head. Original radio left in place.
2 x batteries up front with cutoff switches.
It would look 100% stock inside and out.

What did I miss?

[Clewisiii]

Unfortunately all that cut up and spliced together would not be serviceable by a dealership. You would have to go in with a laundry list of which parts came from which year and vehicle. Then note all the modifications done to make it fit.

I have a front disc brake conversion but I know it was built to fit my vehicle with stock wheels. The rotors were turned to make them fit and they never tell you what cross references for the brake pads because they don't want you piecing it together yourself.

[jwwseville60]

Oh well.....

[Big Fins]

Who's going to build the car for you? Are you doing it? If so, you shouldn't let a dealer parts change anywhere near it. Keep a build sheet with all of the replacement parts and their numbers documented.

[35-709]

Yeah, you need to keep a list in the car of what is what - no oddball stuff.
As noted, my '35 has a '71 472, GM 700R4, '72 Chevy Nova front suspension & disc brakes, 2000 8.8 Ford rear end with disc brakes --- all common off the shelf stuff. Not afraid to take it anywhere.
It will always bother me to see LS engines in older Cadillacs, but, de rigueur these days.   

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Unfortunately all that cut up and spliced together would not be serviceable by a dealership. You would have to go in with a laundry list of which parts came from which year and vehicle. Then note all the modifications done to make it fit.   

Who in their right mind would even think of taking a car like that to any dealership to get work done.

Bruce.

[Big Fins]

Who in their right mind would take any car to a stealership anymore? Unless they had a Brinks truck following close behind and loaded.

[jwwseville60]

An LS is an original equipment GM Caddy engine so fair is fair for a turnkey everyday Caddy Resto-mod.
No dealerships for service, yes I agree. Except for a dire emergency.
But my overall plan is a good one for at least a more reliable vintage Caddy for long trips or everyday use. A parts and modification list in the car is a good idea.

[Carfreak]

Who in their right mind would take any car to a stealership anymore? Unless they had a Brinks truck following close behind and loaded.

When we thought all other options were exhausted, we took our 15 y.o. tractor to the New Holland stealership. Only after I started calling New Holland CORPORATE Dealer Tech Support 3 months into the situation did the dealer finally get what ended up being a minor issue resolved. 

Still disputing the damage the dealer caused to the body when they r&r'd the body WIRING harness (not the problem) and caused a new water leak over the windshield. They supposedly clocked 72 labor hours & broke the driver glass door.

The problem? A small section of the ENGINE wiring harness coating was rubbed off (about 1") causing the wire to short when it touched the valve cover. In all reality, the Techs should have figured this out in no more than a couple hours. Finally got the tractor back after almost 4 months; it was filthy inside and out. Service Manager lost his job since this was a pattern for him with other customers also. Labor rate? $145/hr

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

If I'm not mistaken, the term resto-mod came into being when those of us baby boomers who for one reason or other missed the chance of building and driving an actual hot rod in our youth finally had the freedom and opportunity (money)to try and recapture our youth. Back in the 50's we had no AC, power everything ANN had the skills and tools to keep our contraptions running.
It seems that driving something that sort of resembled what we saw back in High School but was closer to a modern vehicle was the goal and thus the term "Resto-mod" was born
Greg Surfas

[Cadman-iac]

Has anyone built a "restomod" Caddy that isn't a hotrod?

That's what I'm trying to do with my '56. It's going to look completely stock on the outside, but will have a more modern (as compared to the original) drive train. I'm using a '69 472, TH400, the rear axle assembly from a '72, and the finned brake drums all around so I can use the original wheels and hubcaps.
I modified the shifter on the column so it has the correct detents to match the TH400, replaced the steering gearbox with the one from a '72, and am working on installing a Hydro-boost unit that sits in the same location as the original brake booster/master cylinder assembly.
The interior will match the original design, and if I can afford it, I'll paint it the original colors.
I'm going to use the original air conditioning system except for the compressor, which will be an A6.
Not sure yet if I'll do single or dual exhaust.
It'll be a sleeper, looking all original, but have the heart of a newer car.

Rick